Improvement in fuse-hoods for explosive shells



T. TAYLQR.

. Shell-Fuse.

Patented Apr. 11, 1865.

here 22202' NrTED STATES IMPROVEMENT IN FUSE-HOODS FOR EXPLOSIVE SHELLS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 47,231, dated April11,1865.

T0 a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THoi/rns TAYLOR, of the city and county ofWashington, in the District of Columbia` have invented a new andImproved Mode of Lighting Time-Fuses for Shells; and I do hereby declarethat the following is a full and exact description of the same,reference being had tothe accompany. ing drawings,'and to the letters ofreference between it and the lange of the fuse-plug G.-

O is an annular cavity in the front part of the plug, leaving a recessbetween it and the front end of fuse D, the object of which will bepresently explained. e is an annular cavity or recess around thefuse-plug. J ust in rear of its front iiange, (Z, is an opening oropenings leading fromc to c. l

The object ofthe base-cup B is well known to all having any experiencein :firing projectiles; but its purpose somewhat lessens the chance oftheWindage-ilame reaching and-igniting the time-fuse. The objecttherefore of the hood E is to catch and direct this llame upon the endof the fuse. It will be seen by the red arrows how the ilame is broughtin con` tact with the front end of the fuse. When the shell starts, thehood E may flatten a little, ride upon the frontend of the shell, itstop pressing more or less against the walls of the bore, and the iiamereferred to is directed underneath, the hood passing through the holesin front end of fuse-plug, igniting the front end of the time-fuse D,which I saturate with I collodion. Repeated experiment has proved `theefficiency of this lanie-hood-its office in directing the ilame to thefuse, which otherwise -would be dissipated. The hood may behemispherical, or the zone of a sphere. This would necessitate thegrooving of the front end of the shell, or the insertion of tubes in thesame. Grooves may be seen indicated by dotted lines at f,- or theseseveral devicescorrugated or plain cups, a plain or grooved shell, orone with tubesmay be used, the combination varied at pleasure,withoutdeparting from the nature of my invention; I think a corrugated hood anda grooved shell, or one with tubes, (which is the saine,) will provemost efficient. In this arrangement the hood is always in place, heldrmlybetween the front end of the shell and the flange of the fuse-plug,and cannot be displaced.

I lam aware that a name-hood has been placed entirely in front oftheshell and its fuse. This is liable to great objection, on account oi'easy displacement in transportation, especially, if not in loading orfiring. It therefore must necessitate being put in position at the timeof use. The objection to this anyone acquainted with artillery-practicemust at once acknowledge.

Without departing from the nature of my invention, the iiame-hood E maybe permanently attached to the flange of the fuse-plug C, or it may beattached Ato the shell, being located between both.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isv The useof the ilamehood E, located between the front end of the shell and thefront of the fuse, held securely in place by the flange of the plug O,the same constructed and 0perated substantially as described.

THOMAS TAYLOR.

NVitnesses:

S. S. FAHNEsTocK, .Y JNO. H. J orrNsoN.-

